Tackling Unnecessary Regulation (LRRA Act)
In January 2007, the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006 (LRRA) came into force. It aims to make it quicker and easier to tackle unnecessary or over-complicated legislation and help bring about a risk-based approach to regulation.
LRAA is an important part of the Government’s wider programme to reduce the burdens to business caused by regulation. It repealed the Regulatory Reform Act 2001 and gave the Government two order-making powers which ministers can use to amend primary legislation.
Order-making powers
The powers allow ministers to create a Legislative Reform Order (LRO) to:
- remove or reduce burdens
- ensure that regulatory functions comply with the five principles of good regulation.
The five principles of good regulation
These principles are in place to ensure regulatory activities are carried out in ways that are:
- transparent
- accountable
- proportionate
- consistent
- targeted (i.e. only introduced where action is needed)
LRRA guidance for departments
The Better Regulation Executive (BRE) has issued step-by-step guidance to help departments decide whether it is appropriate to use the LRRA order-making powers for delivering a specific proposal.
Please contact Patrick Pieroni on 020 7215 1752 if you would like a copy of the guidance.
The explanatory notes below will also help departments decide if they should be using LRRA order-making powers for a proposal.
Once departmental policy and legal officials are confident that their proposals are suitable for delivery by order, they should contact the BRE or HM Treasury Solicitors.
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